מִשְׁלַח (mish.lach)

mish.lach

sending

H4916 · Hebrew · Old Testament · 9 verses

H:N-M

Language: Biblical Hebrew
Testament: Old Testament
Occurrences: 9 verses
Root: —
Part of speech: H:N-M

Word Overview

The Hebrew noun mishlach denotes the act of sending or outstretching, often referring to a specific place where something is released. Its core sense involves the movement from one state to another, whether through physical extension or the dispatch of people and objects.

This word appears nine times in the Old Testament, with notable occurrences in Deuteronomy, Isaiah, and Esther. In these contexts, it frequently describes the sending forth of messengers or the release of animals, capturing both the action of sending and the location associated with that release. The term bridges the abstract idea of dispatch with the concrete reality of a place set aside for letting loose.

Its usage highlights the tangible nature of biblical communication and movement. Rather than implying a distant or abstract transmission, mishlach often grounds the concept in physical space or immediate action, reflecting how ancient Israelite society understood the flow of information and resources through direct, observable means.

Based on public-domain lexicons (Strong's, Thayer, Gesenius, Brown-Driver-Briggs and others).

What This Word Means for Your Faith

The word mishlach reminds us that God’s plans often involve movement and release. In Deuteronomy, it points to the specific places where Israel gathered to share meals and blessings with their families. This highlights how faith is lived out in community, sharing joy and resources with those around you.

In Esther, the term shifts to the act of sending gifts during Purim. It shows that celebration includes caring for others, ensuring no one is left out of the joy. Even in Isaiah, it describes land set aside for animals, grounding spiritual truths in everyday life.

Ultimately, mishlach teaches us that God’s blessings are not meant to be kept hidden. They are meant to be shared, sent out, and experienced together. This simple act of sending reflects a heart open to God’s provision and a willingness to extend that grace to others.

How it's translated

How this word is rendered word-by-word in the 9 verses where it appears, by frequency.

<the> undertaking of5×
and/ [the] sending of2×
[will be] [the] stretching out of1×
<into>/ pastureland of1×

Forms in the text

The inflected forms of this word as they appear in Scripture, by frequency.

מִשְׁלַ֥ח3×
מִשְׁלַ֣ח2×
מִשְׁל֣וֹח1×
לְ/מִשְׁלַ֣ח1×
וּ/מִשְׁל֥וֹחַ1×
וּ/מִשְׁל֤וֹחַ1×

Key Verses

Esther 9:19
Therefore the Jews of the villages, who live in the unwalled towns, make the fourteenth day of the month Adar a day of gladness and feasting, a holiday, and a day of sending presents of food to one another.

This verse uses mishlach to describe the custom of sending food gifts, highlighting how communal joy includes caring for neighbors during celebrations.
Isaiah 7:25
All the hills that were cultivated with the hoe, you shall not come there for fear of briers and thorns; but it shall be for the sending out of oxen, and for sheep to tread on.”

Here the word refers to land designated for livestock, showing how God’s instructions often involve practical, physical spaces for daily life.
Deuteronomy 12:7
There you shall eat before Yahweh your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your households, in which Yahweh your God has blessed you.

While mishlach does not appear in this verse, the context of rejoicing in all you put your hand to aligns with the theme of blessing and sharing found in its occurrences.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does mishlach mean in the Bible?

Mishlach is a Hebrew noun that means 'sending' or 'dispatch.' It often refers to the act of sending people, messages, or gifts, and can also denote the place where something is released.

Where does mishlach appear most often?

It appears nine times in the Old Testament, with notable uses in Esther 9:19-22 for sending gifts, and in Isaiah 7:25 for land used for livestock.

How is mishlach different from other words for sending?

While related verbs focus on the action, mishlach often emphasizes the result or the specific location associated with the sending. It grounds abstract ideas of dispatch in tangible reality.

Every Occurrence (9 verses across 3 books)

Deuteronomy 5 verses

Deuteronomy 12:7

There you shall eat before Yahweh your God, and you shall rejoice in all that you put your hand to, you and your…

Deuteronomy 12:18

but you shall eat them before Yahweh your God in the place which Yahweh your God shall choose: you, your son, your…

Deuteronomy 15:10

You shall surely give, and your heart shall not be grieved when you give to him, because it is for this thing Yahweh…

Deuteronomy 28:8

Yahweh will command the blessing on you in your barns, and in all that you put your hand to. He will bless you in the…

Deuteronomy 28:20

Yahweh will send on you cursing, confusion, and rebuke in all that you put your hand to do, until you are destroyed and…

Esther 2 verses

Isaiah 2 verses